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The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely devoid of matter. The interstellar spaces are filled with ‘dust’: very low density matter. This miniscule amount of matter, spread over almost infinite distances, acts like a curtain obscuring the stars that lie behind. If it were not for this material we would see no dark patches in the sky at night: the sky would be entirely covered with stars.

The two parts in boldface play what roles in the argument above?

A. The first is a suggestion that the author wishes to dispute. The second is hypothesis that the author wishes to explain.B. The first is the main point the author wishes to make. The second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point.C. The first is a fact that the author thinks is important in explaining a certain phenomenon. The second is a result that the author would expect if that fact were not true.D. The first is a speculation that the author wishes to justify. The second is a consequence that would result if that speculation is not true.E. The first is an established fact that the author wishes to explain. The second is a consequence of accepting this fact.

The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely devoid of matter. The interstellar spaces are filled with ‘dust’: very low density matter. This miniscule amount of matter, spread over almost infinite distances, acts like a curtain obscuring the stars that lie behind. If it were not for this material we would see no dark patches in the sky at night: the sky would be entirely covered with stars.

The two parts in boldface play what roles in the argument above?

A. The first is a suggestion that the author wishes to dispute. The second is hypothesis that the author wishes to explain.B. The first is the main point the author wishes to make. The second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point.C. The first is a fact that the author thinks is important in explaining a certain phenomenon. The second is a result that the author would expect if that fact were not true.D. The first is a speculation that the author wishes to justify. The second is a consequence that would result if that speculation is not true.E. The first is an established fact that the author wishes to explain. The second is a consequence of accepting this fact.

Need explanation.......if you find this post helpful plz give+1 kudos

A) The first is NOT a suggestion. WRONG

B) The second is a hypothetical result of NOT accepting that point. WRONG

The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely devoid of matter. The interstellar spaces are filled with ‘dust’: very low density matter. This miniscule amount of matter, spread over almost infinite distances, acts like a curtain obscuring the stars that lie behind. If it were not for this material we would see no dark patches in the sky at night: the sky would be entirely covered with stars.

The two parts in boldface play what roles in the argument above?

A. The first is a suggestion that the author wishes to dispute. The second is hypothesis that the author wishes to explain.B. The first is the main point the author wishes to make. The second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point.C. The first is a fact that the author thinks is important in explaining a certain phenomenon. The second is a result that the author would expect if that fact were not true.D. The first is a speculation that the author wishes to justify. The second is a consequence that would result if that speculation is not true.E. The first is an established fact that the author wishes to explain. The second is a consequence of accepting this fact.

A little bit of sentence correction and this question becomes as easy as clapping.Notice that the author says:If it were not for this material we would see no dark patches in the sky at night. The blue portion assumes that if it were not ture then this may happen. That implies that actually it is true.The author then creates a situation that if it were not true then the sky would have been entirely covered with stars. Hence the first boldface is a clear stated fact.The second is a consequence the author expects if the fact were not true.

Among the answer choices, C is the ideal answer.Hope that helps. _________________

The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely devoid of matter. The interstellar spaces are filled with ‘dust’: very low density matter. This miniscule amount of matter, spread over almost infinite distances, acts like a curtain obscuring the stars that lie behind. If it were not for this material we would see no dark patches in the sky at night: the sky would be entirely covered with stars.

The two parts in boldface play what roles in the argument above?

A. The first is a suggestion that the author wishes to dispute. The second is hypothesis that the author wishes to explain.B. The first is the main point the author wishes to make. The second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point.C. The first is a fact that the author thinks is important in explaining a certain phenomenon. The second is a result that the author would expect if that fact were not true.D. The first is a speculation that the author wishes to justify. The second is a consequence that would result if that speculation is not true.E. The first is an established fact that the author wishes to explain. The second is a consequence of accepting this fact.

Need explanation.......if you find this post helpful plz give+1 kudos

I would like to contradict in the answer choice .IMO answer should be (D).If I am not wrong then FACT is a FACT universally indisputable , but in this case it is Author's opinionI think SPECULATION should have been correct as the author first speculates it then provides an example such that that speculation is demonized.And the SPECULATION now becomes FACT but only for the author.

Options A and D can be eliminated.Now the argument states "if the 1st argument were not true than a conclusion could not have been arrived upon i.e. 2 nd statement could not have been arrived upon"So the 2nd can not be a conclusion or consequence....its a cause and effect...Hence only C remains.

The enormous distances between stars are not spaces entirely devoid of matter. The interstellar spaces are filled with ‘dust’: very low density matter. This miniscule amount of matter, spread over almost infinite distances, acts like a curtain obscuring the stars that lie behind. If it were not for this material we would see no dark patches in the sky at night: the sky would be entirely covered with stars.

The two parts in boldface play what roles in the argument above?

A. The first is a suggestion that the author wishes to dispute. The second is hypothesis that the author wishes to explain.B. The first is the main point the author wishes to make. The second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point.C. The first is a fact that the author thinks is important in explaining a certain phenomenon. The second is a result that the author would expect if that fact were not true.D. The first is a speculation that the author wishes to justify. The second is a consequence that would result if that speculation is not true.E. The first is an established fact that the author wishes to explain. The second is a consequence of accepting this fact.

Need explanation.......if you find this post helpful plz give+1 kudos

OK, let’s try this one. Let’s begin dissecting the stimulus. What is the conclusion? It is actually the first boldface. The second boldface, will be then more of a prediction that the author holds. Let’s see what we have in the answer choices. ‘A’ says that the first is a suggestion, this is wrong. It is not a suggestion it is a fact. I don’t even have to keep reading the rest. ‘B’, the first is the main point the author wishes to make. This is true, we already identified this as the conclusion. It also says that the ‘second is a hypothetical result of accepting that point’. This is clearly not true. So ‘B’ is out. Now, let’s go for ‘D’. The first is a speculation. Again, this is a fact. It is not a speculation. So ‘D’ is out. Finally, ‘E’. ‘The first is a fact’, this is correct. The second is a ‘consequence of accepting this fact’. This second portion is obviously wrong. So ‘C’ must be the correct answer. Let’s make sure it makes sense. The first is a ‘fact’. This is true. The second is a result that the author would expect if the fact were not true. This is also correct.

Now, Role questions take some time specially the more ambiguous types such as these one. Note that we won’t always have clear synonyms of building blocks in our answer choices. Sometimes, we will have to distuinguish between ‘Fact’ and ‘Opinion/Speculation/Suggestion etc…. Also be sure to read the entire answer. We have to make sure that everything matches, since we have two boldface here, we must make sure that both of them are correctly described in the correct answer choice.

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

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